2017 Nissan GT-R set for Oz

BRACE yourselves Nissan GT-R fans. Not only has Nissan revealed a brand new, more powerful GT-R at the New York International Auto Show, but it has announced the launch of two editions locally – the Premium Edition and, in an Australian first, the Track Edition engineered by NISMO.

Set to hit showrooms in late September this year, the new GT-R offers an exciting new look both inside and out, as well as major driving-performance enhancements and key new features. They represent the most significant changes made to the model since it was introduced in 2007.

The new GT-R’s exterior gets a complete makeover across the front end. The new chrome matte finish ‘V-motion’ grille represents one of Nissan’s latest design signatures.

It has been enlarged to provide better engine cooling and features an updated mesh pattern. A new hood, which flows flawlessly from the grille, has been significantly reinforced, contributing to stability during high-speed driving.

A freshly-designed front spoiler lip and front bumpers with finishers situated immediately below the headlamps give the new GT-R the look of a pure-bred race car, while generating high levels of front downforce.

The GT-R’s familiar wind-cutting shape defines its profile, but the side sills have been pushed out to improve air flow. The rear of the car also received a thorough makeover.

While the GT-R’s hallmark four-ring taillights remain, look closely and you’ll notice new bodywork to help improve air flow, as well as side air vents next to the quad exhaust tips.

Also, the belt line that separates the lower black section from the body panel has been heightened to give the car a wider and more aggressive look from the rear.

These exterior changes don’t result just in a sportier-looking car, they create an aerodynamically efficient vehicle, with less drag but retaining the same amount of downforce as the current GT-R to keep the car stable at high speeds.

Step into the cabin, and you’re greeted by a premium interior that is befitting a high-performance sports car of this calibre. The entire dashboard and instrument panel are new and covered with high-quality leather artfully stitched together with TAKUMI precision.

The shape of the dashboard adopts a ‘horizontal flow’ that delivers a sense of increased stability for the car’s front-seat occupants, while the line from the instrument cluster to the centre console provides a distinct driver-oriented environment for those behind the steering wheel.

The centre dashboard layout has also been improved and simplified. Integrated navigation and audio controls reduce the number of switches from 27 in the previous model to only 11 in the 2017 model.

An enlarged eight-inch touch-panel monitor features large icons on the display screen to make it easy to operate. A new display command control on the carbon-fibre centre console allows easy operation.

The shift paddles are now mounted to the new steering wheel, allowing drivers to change gears in mid-turn without having to take their hands off the wheel. The paddles themselves, along with the ventilation controls, have improved feel and better sound when engaged or adjusted.

The GT-R’s award-winning 3.8-litre V6 24-valve twin-turbocharged engine — each unit handcrafted by its own TAKUMI technician — now delivers 419 kilowatts at 6800 rpm and 632Nm of torque.

The engines are the definition of TAKUMI expertise. The improved output, which are the result of individual ignition-timing control of the cylinders and extra boost from the turbochargers, allow the new GT-R to possess superior acceleration in the mid- to high-ranges (3200 rpm and above).

It comes mated to a thoroughly refined six-speed dual-clutch transmission that features smoother shifts and less noise. That familiar GT-R tone also has been upgraded with an engine that has never sounded better. The resonance of the new titanium mufflers and Active Sound Enhancement (ASE) enhance the driving experience.

The GT-R has always been regarded as one of the world’s best handling machines, and for 2017, its cornering abilities have become even better. A more rigid body structure and new suspension result in better stability through quick lateral transitions and higher overall cornering speed.

Providing the grip are sticky 20 inch tyres, wrapped around new ‘Y-spoke’ machine-finished forged aluminium wheels. The new GT-R exhibits a smoother ride quality than the outgoing model, and its cabin remains much quieter at all speeds and new sound absorption materials.

Pricing for both new editions of the new Nissan GT-R will be announced soon, along with full details of the NISMO Track Edition specifications.